Means for teaching aviation and testing aeroplanes.



W. P. MANGELS. 4 MEANS FOR TEACHING AVIATION AND TESTING AEROPLANES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.27. 1910.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

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WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA PLANDORAi-u cu.,wAsHlNar0N, D. c.

W. P. MANGELS. MEANS FOR TEACHING AVIATION AND-TESTING AEROPLANES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 27. 1910. 1,007,4 7, Patented 001. 31, 1911.

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AITORNEYS COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0,.WASHINGTON, D. c.-

W. P. MANGELS. MEANS FOR TEACHING AVIATION ANDTESTING AEROPLANES. APPLIOA'I'IOH FILED JAN. 27. 1910.

1,007,467.? Patented Oct. 31, 1.911.

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WILLIAM F. MANGELS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MEANS FOR TEACHING AVIATION AND TESTING AEROPLANES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. MANGELS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, Coney Island, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Means for Teaching Aviation and Testing Aeroplanes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact de scrlption.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved means for teaching aviation and testing aeroplanes, that is, to enable a person to acquire with the utmost safety all the necessary skill and confidence required for a flight in the open air with an aeroplane or other flying machine, and to allow aviators to fully test the motors and other parts of an aeroplane with safety to themselves and the aeroplane.

For the purpose mentioned, use is made of means for freely suspending an aeroplane or other flying machine, on which the person to be taught is mounted, and a powerdriven vehicle having means to regulate the speed of the vehicle, so as to run the latter approximately at the same speed that the aeroplane is driven at the time. i

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement, parts being in section; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; and Fig. 3 is an end view of the same.

A car A is mounted to travel on tracks B, and the said car A is provided with motors C, preferably of the electric type, deriving power from a third rail or other conductor D, and brushes or shoes E, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. In the flat body A of the car A is arranged a pit F, for accommodating an operator or other person or persons,-

and into the said pit F extend manipulating devices G of the motors and car brakes, to be within convenient reach of the operator, thus enabling the latter to run the car A at any desired speed on the tracks 13.

On the body A of the car A is arranged a pivot H, on which is mounted a turn frame I, extending the length of the car body A, and terminating at its ends in uprights or standards I, and the said frame I is fastened in place on the body A by suitable Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 27, 1910.

Patented Got. 31, 1911.

Serial No. 540,357.

clamping or other fastening devices J, which when released permit of turning the frame I end for end.

A cable K is stretched between the upper ends of the standards I of the frame I, and on the said cable K is suspended, by means of cables or ropes L, an aeroplane N or similar flying machine, of any approved construction, and on which a person to be taught aviation is seated, to manipulate the driving and steering mechanism of the aeroplane, the same as if the aeroplane was used in flight in the open air. Straps 0, normally slack, extend from the sides of the frame I to the aeroplane, so as to limit the sidewise swinging movement thereof, and lengthwise movement of the aeroplane N is limited by cables or ropes P, P, extending from a central post Q held on the frame I. The rope P extends from the post Q in a forward direction, to connect with a forward part of the aeroplane N, and the rope P extends from the post Q. rearwardly, to connect with a part of the aeroplane N at the rear end thereof, so that the aeroplane when driven by its motors, manipulated by the aviator, is free to move within the limits of the suspension and limiting ropes and straps L, O and P, P.

When teaching aviation, the person to be taught is seated in the aeroplane O, and an operator seated in the pit F controls the car A, and runs the same over the track, approximately at a speed corresponding to that given by the aviator operating the aeroplane N. Thus the operator in the pit F increases or decreases the speed of the car A corresponding to the speed of the aeroplane N, so that the latter is practically in full flight, and consequently the aviator can readily learn to manipulate the power and steering devices of the aeroplane N, thus acquiring the necessary skill and confidence required for a flight in the open air, and without danger of injury to himself or to the aeroplane. hen the car A has reached the end of the track B, in case the latter is not continuous, then the clamps J are re-' leased to allow of swinging the frame I and with it the suspended aeroplane N around,

after which the frame I is again fastened in.

place on the body A by the clamps J, and the car A can now be run back on the track B with the aeroplane N again properly facing the wind. In case it is desired to test an aeroplane or a similar flying machine, it

is mounted on the frame A as described, and persons can test the aeroplane to the full extent with perfect safety. It is understood that the aeroplane N, on account of being freely suspended, can readily be steered to the right or to the left, or up or down, or driven forward or backward within the 11mits of the suspension and limiting devices, and consequently the aviator in charge of the aeroplane N can readily acquire the desired skill and confidence in manipulating an aeroplane.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent:

1. An apparatus for teaching aviation, comprising a vehicle, means for propelling the vehicle, a frame mounted upon the vehicle, a power driven flying machine, means for suspending the flying machine within the frame, and means for limiting the lengthwise and lateral movement of the flying machine.

2. An apparatus for teaching aviation, comprising a vehicle, means for propelling the vehicle, a centrally pivoted frame on the vehicle, a power driven flying machine, means for suspending the flying machine in the frame, and means for limiting the swinging movement of the flying machine in the frame to the direction in which the vehicle is moving.

3. An apparatus for teaching aviation, comprising a track, a vehicle mounted to travel on the track, a frame pivotally mounted on the vehicle, a power driven fly ing machine suspended in the frame, and

means for operating the vehicle, whereby it may be run at approximately the same speed as that given to the flying machine.

4. A means for teaching aviation or testing aeroplanes, comprising a track, a powerdriven vehicle mounted to travel on the said track and having manually-controlled speed regulating means for controlling the speed of the vehicle, a suspension frame mounted to turn on the said vehicle and provided with holding devices for freely suspending a power-driven aeroplane and its operator, and for limiting the sidewise and up and down motion of the said aeroplane to allow the operator thereof to drive the aeroplane at a desired speed and to steer the same in any desired direction.

5. A means for teaching aviation or testing aeroplanes, comprising a track, a power driven car mounted to travel on the said track and provided with a pit for an operator, and speed-controlling means for the said car and within reach of the operator in the pit to enable the operator to control the speed of the car, a U-shaped frame mounted on the said car, and a suspension cable on the said frame for suspending an aeroplane therefrom.

6. A means for teaching aviation or testing aeroplanes, comprising a track, a powerdriven car mounted to travel on the said track and provided with a pit for an operator and speedcontrolling means for the said car and within reach of the operator in the pit, to enable the operator to control the speed of the car, a U-shaped frame mounted on the said car, a suspension cable on the said frame for suspending an aeroplane therefrom, and stops to limit the movement of the said aeroplane in any direction.

7. A means for teaching aviation or testing aeroplanes, comprising a track, a powerdriven car mounted to travel on the said track and provided with a pit for an operator and speed-controlling means for the said car and within reach of the operator in the pit, to enable the operator to control the speed of the car, a U-shaped frame mounted on the said car, a suspension cable on the said frame for suspending an aeroplane therefrom, stops to limit the movement of the said aeroplane in any direction, the said frame being pivoted on the said car, and means for fastening the frame in either a forward or reversed position on the said car.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

XVILLIAM F. MANGELS.

lVitnesses Tnno. G. Hosrnn, PHILIP D. RoLLHAUs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patenh Washington, D. C. 

